Cash tray



P. KRUPIN CASH TRAY Nov. 17, 1953 Filed Nov. 16, 1949 Phi/ip K rup/nINVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y CASH TRAY PhilipKrupin, Orange, N. Application November 16, 1949, Serial No. 127,667

(Cl. 20G-74) 1 Claim. l

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structuralrefinements in cash trays, and the principal object of the invention isto provide a device of the character herein described which embodies inits construction means for retaining or clamping money in position onthe tray and also, means for soliciting payment upon presentation of abill and expressing gratitude when the bill is paid.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity ofconstruction, in its pleasing appearance, and its convenient use, and init adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view, and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement andconstruction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail, taken substantially inthe plane of the line 2-2 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail, taken substantially inthe plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail taken substantially inthe plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a bracket used in the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in thespecification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the inventionconsists of a cash tray designated generally by the reference characterI0, this embodying in its construction a dishshaped receptacle I2including a bottom I4 and an upwardly extending marginal flange I6, itbeing noted that a portion I8 of this flange at the back of thereceptacle is substantially increased in thickness and is provided onits inner surface with a, pair of spaced vertically extending ribs 20.

A plate or bracket 22 is positioned against the inner surface of thethickened flange portion I8 and is angulated so as to provide a pair ofspaced, vertically extending channels 24 for the reception of the ribs20, whereby this bracket or plate is located on the flange. Suitablescrews 26 extend through the bracket into the flange portion I8 tosecure the bracket in position.

ture 35 in the bracket 22 A horizontal hinge pin 28 extends through thechannels 24 of the bracket 22 and through the ribs 20, this pin beingdisposed adjacent the bottom I4 of the receptacle I2 and having mountedthereon the lower end portion of asubstantially T-shaped arm 30 which isthereby swingable from a substantially horizontal, clamping position onthe bottom I4 as shown at 32 to a substantially upright position whereinit abuts the intermediate portion of the bracket 22.

The lower end portion of the arm 30 is recessed to accommodate a helicalspring 34 which is positioned on the hinge pin 28, one end portion ofthis spring extending through an aperinto the flange portion I8 asindicated at 38', while its remaining end portion is anchored in a blindbore 40 provided in the arm 30 (see Figure 2).

The spring 34 is coiled in such manner that it urges the arm 30 to itsupright position, but means are provided for releasably retaining thearm in its horizontal clamping position against the resiliency of thespring. These means simply consist of a resilient catch 42 which has oneend portion thereof secured by a screw 44 to the bottom I4 while itsremaining end portion affords a depressable linger piece 46. Theintermediate portion of the catch 42 is angulated so as to provide adetent 48 which is engageable with the arm 30 to retain the latter inits clamping position. However, by simply depressing the finger piece asillustrated at 50 in Figure 4, the detent 48 is disengaged from the armand the latter is free to swing upwardly by the resiliency of the spring34.

The upper portion of the arm 30 may be inscribed on the one surfacethereof with a suitable legend, such as for example, Please Pay Server,while the rear surface of the upper portion of the arm 30 may beinscribed with another legend, such as for example Thank You. These twolegends are indicated at 52, 54 respectively, in Figure 1.

When the invention is placed in use, such as for example, in arestaurant where a waiter is about to tender a bill to a customer, thebill is placed before the customer on the tray while the arm 30 isupraised, thus soliciting, by the legend 52, payment of the bill.Thereupon, when the customer deposits money on the tray, the arm 30 maybe depressed to its clamping position 32 so y as to frictionally retainthe money on the bottom of the tray, and at the same time, the rear sideof the arm 30 will effectively display the Thank You inscription.

Ultimately, when the waiter returns with whatever change there may be,the arm 30 is again used for clamping the change in position on the trayand the Thank You legend on the rear surface of the arm will effectivelyexpress gratitude to the customer for whatever tip he may leave.

It is believed that the advantages and use o1 the invention will bereadily apparent from the foregoing disclosure., and accordingly,4further descriptionv thereof `at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction, tion and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit'and scope of the inventionas claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed asxnew is:

Ina cash tray, the combination of Aa. dishshaped receptacle including abottom and an upturned marginal flange, a bracket secured .to

`combina-y 4 said hinge pin to said bracket and swingable from asubstantially horizontal clamping position wherein it lies flat on saidbottom to a substantially upright position, said bracket affording astop for said arm in its upright position, a coil spring positioned onsaid hinge pin and bearing against said arm for swinging the sameupwardly, and a resilient catch mounted on said bottom and engageablewith said arm when the theflatter is nits clampingposltion, said catchcomprising a strip having a'baseportion secured to said bottom, anangulated intermediate portion movable in and out of engagement withsaid arm, and a depressible finger piece provided on said intermediateportion and spaced above Vsaid` base portion.

PHILIP KRUPIN.

References Cited in the le of this patent

